The government today said it had extended until the end of this month the deadline for thousands of Indonesian illegal workers to return home to their country.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, on a visit to Indonesia, said the extension follows a request by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malaysia had earlier given illegal migrants until the end of the Aidil Fitri holiday in mid-November to return home.

"We hope that with the extension of the amnesty, more illegal (workers) in Malaysia will return to Indonesia," Najib said after talks with Indonesia's Vice President Yusuf Kalla here.

As of Dec 6 a total of 101,668 Indonesian migrants have returned to Indonesia, according to a statement distributed by Najib's staff.

Jail term

Indonesian Manpower Minister Fahmi Idris said facilities would be set up in addition to those at the Indonesian embassy and consulate-general in areas where there are many Indonesian migrants, to cater for returning workers.

Under tough laws introduced in Malaysia two years ago, illegal immigrants face jail sentences of up to five years or fines of up to RM10,000, or both, plus whipping.

Eighteen thousand illegal immigrants have been whipped in Malaysian prisons in the past two years.

There are an estimated 1.2 million illegal workers in Malaysia. Most are from neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines, drawn to relatively prosperous Malaysia by jobs in construction, plantation work and services.